Mackay city, QLD Crime Rate by Suburb: Is it safe?

According to Queensland Police Service (QPS), Mackay crime rate for the year ending June 2022 was 10768 incidents per 100,000 population. This represents a 10% decrease from the previous year.

Mackay Crime Index

33

(100 is safest)

Safer than 33% of most Australia cities

Mackay Crime Map

Is Mackay Safe?

Mackay has low safety metrics. Crime rates in Mackay are quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas. Mackay is safer than 33% of all Australian communities and than 19% of Queensland cities and towns. However, theft is a common offence in Mackay.

Mackay Crime Statistics at a Glance

Has Crime in Mackay increased or decreased in the past 5 years? The chart below shows the 60-month historical trend of the number of offences that occurred in Mackay.

• The number of criminal incidents recorded in the year 2022 was 8664, down 10% from 9653 incidents recorded in the same period last year.

• Mackay is in the 19th percentile for safety, meaning 81% of Queensland urban areas are safer than Mackay and 19% of urban areas are more dangerous than Mackay.

• Street safety to walk at night: moderate safety.

• Common crime: theft.

• Safest suburb in Mackay city: Ooralea suburb.

• Top areas to avoid in Mackay city (bad areas): Mackay suburb.

• The number of assault offences recorded in 2022 increased by 16% (119 Incidents) compared to the previous year..

• The number of murder offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 100% (1 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of unlawful entry offences recorded in 2022 decreased by 35% (329 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of theft offences (excl. Unlawful Entry) recorded in 2022 decreased by 7% (159 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of robbery offences recorded in 2022 increased by 36% (9 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of unlawful use of motor vehicles (car theft) recorded in 2022 decreased by 14% (45 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

• The number of vandalism offences (other property damage) recorded in 2022 increased by 1% (9 Incidents) compared to the previous year.

Crime in Mackay: An In-Depth Analysis

Based on the latest crime statistics from the Queensland Police Service (QPS), AU Crime Rate’s analysis indicates that Mackay is safer than only 33% of all communities across the nation, regardless of population size. This implies that Mackay’s crime rate is quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas.

How does Mackay perform compared to other cities and towns of all population sizes in Queensland? The crime rate in Mackay city is greater than that of roughly 81% of other cities and towns in Queensland, leading to low public safety scores.

As a resident of Mackay, the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 14 based on the combined crime rate of offences against the person and property. This is in contrast to the Queensland average, where the chance of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 16.

To get a more comprehensive understanding of Mackay’s crime statistics, it is essential to take a closer look at its against the person and property crime data. This examination is particularly critical because it enables us to determine whether violent crime, property crime, or both are the primary contributors to the total crime rate in Mackay. By doing so, we can gain a more in-depth insight into the nature and extent of crime in Mackay.

AU Crime Rate’s analysis has uncovered that the rate of crimes against the person in Mackay is 1258 per one hundred thousand inhabitants. By contrast, the statewide average for such crimes stands at 1097. This suggests that experiencing serious offences like homicide, assault, robbery, and other offences against the person is 1 in 79 if you reside in Mackay.

Our data reveal that the odds of becoming a victim of property crime in Mackay city are 1 in 18, with a rate of 5282 incidents per 100,000 residents. Keep in mind that the Queensland average is 4773 incidents per 100,000 residents. The types of property crimes tracked in this analysis include arson, fraud, handling stolen goods, unlawful entry, unlawful use of motor vehicles, other theft, and other property damage.

Mackay Crime Rates by Offences Division

Mackay Crimes Against the Person (Violent Crimes)

These are violent crimes against people whether these are family violence or non-family violence. Basically, if someone does something to hurt or scare another person, it’s considered a crime against the person. This includes:

• Other Homicide:  Other homicides are crimes that include attempted murder, murder conspiracy, and manslaughter. Attempted murder is when someone tries to kill another person but is unsuccessful. Murder conspiracy is when two or more people plan to kill someone. Manslaughter is when someone unintentionally causes the death of another person.
• Assault and related offences: There are different types of assault, like serious assault, which is when someone causes really serious injuries as a result of a physical attack, and assault on police, emergency services or other authorised officers, which is when someone attacks a cop or a paramedic or someone doing their job. There’s also common assault, which is like when someone threatens to punch you or makes you feel scared for your safety.
• Robbery: There are two types of robbery or mugging: aggravated and non-aggravated. Aggravated robbery is when someone uses a weapon like a knife or a firearm (armed robbery) or causes serious harm to the victim during the robbery, like hitting them with a bat or a gun. Non-aggravated robbery is when someone doesn’t use a weapon or cause serious harm during the robbery but still uses force or the threat of force to take something from the victim.
• Other offences against the person: These include going armed to cause fear, threatening violence, deprivation of liberty, stalking, and torture. Going Armed to Cause Fear is when someone carries a weapon with the intention of making others scared. Threatening Violence is when someone uses words or actions to scare or intimidate someone else. Deprivation of Liberty is when someone is held against their will, and Stalking is when someone repeatedly follows or harasses another person. Finally, Torture is when someone intentionally hurts someone else very badly, usually to make them suffer or to get information.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Crime Against the Person

Crimes Against the Person Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Crimes Against the Person: Mackay vs Queensland

It’s important to note that the crime rates for sexual offences are not included in the previously mentioned data for Mackay city. Here is Central region data for these offences that can be used as a benchmark for comparison.

Mackay Offences Against Property

These are crimes related to stealing or damaging property or deceiving someone for personal gain. Property crimes include:

• Theft: It can be committed in various forms such as shoplifting, stealing from a person’s home, or taking a vehicle without permission. Other examples include stealing a bicycle, snatching a purse, or taking items from an unattended bag.
• Unlawful entry (burglary): Aggravated and non-aggravated burglaries are examples of burglary. Aggravated burglary involves the use of weapons, threats, or violence during the break-in, while non-aggravated burglary does not involve such factors.
• Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle: Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle is when someone uses/steals a car, a bicycle, or other vehicle without the owner’s permission or without legal authority. 
• Arson: Arson is a criminal act of intentionally setting fire to a property, building, or forest (bushfire) without lawful or justifiable reason. 
• Handling Stolen Goods: Handling Stolen Goods is a criminal offence that involves dealing with property that has been stolen. For instance, if someone buys a bike from a person they know stole it, they are committing the crime of Handling Stolen Goods. Similarly, if someone sells a stolen phone to someone else, they are also committing the crime. Even if someone receives a stolen item as a gift or in good faith, they can still be charged with the offence if they knew or ought to have known that the property was stolen.
• Fraud: Fraud is a type of criminal activity that involves deceiving or misleading someone for personal gain. Examples of fraud include things like pretending to be someone else to access their bank account, selling fake products or services, or making false insurance claims.
• Property damage: This refers to intentional or accidental harm caused to someone else’s property, such as vandalism, or graffiti.

My Chances of Becoming a Victim of Offences Against Property

Offences Against Property Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Against Property offences: Mackay vs Queensland, Australia

Other Offences

Other Offences is a group of crimes that covers many areas, including drugs, prostitution, gambling, and traffic. This includes drug crimes, prostitution, selling alcohol without permission, gambling and racing offences, breaking domestic violence protection orders, trespassing and vagrancy, weapon crimes, disorderly conduct, stock-related crimes, traffic violations, and other miscellaneous crimes.

Other Offences Comparison (Per 100,000 Residents)

Other Offences: Mackay vs Queensland

Here is a breakdown of some of the other offences that we mentioned before.

Mackay Crimes per Square KM

How many murders were in Mackay city in 2022?

According to Queensland Police Service (QPS), there were 0 murders in Mackay city in 2022. The number of other homicides (which includes attempted murder, murder conspiracy, and manslaughter) was 0.

What’s the most common crime in Mackay city?

According to the latest available data from Queensland Police Service (QPS), the most common type of crime in Mackay city is theft.

What is the crime rate in Mackay city?

The overall crime rate in Mackay city, as measured by the number of reported offences per 100,000 population was 10768 in the year ending June 2022.

However, it’s important to note that this is an aggregate figure that includes all types of crime, and some types of offences are more prevalent than others. Additionally, crime rates can vary by location, with some areas experiencing higher rates of certain types of crime than others.

Is Mackay city a safe place to live in?

Mackay city is safer than 33% of cities and towns across Australia and the crime rates are quite a bit higher than the average of Australian urban areas. Compared to Queensland cities, Mackay city is safer than 19% other communities in the state which are considered low safety scores in Queensland.

Is Mackay city safe at night?

According to Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, 51% of crimes in Mackay city occur between 6 PM and 6 AM so, it’s moderate safety to walk alone in Mackay city at night.

What suburb has the highest crime rate in Mackay city?

Mackay is the suburb with the highest rate of reported criminal incidents in Mackay city with a rate of 63963 incidents per 100,000 population, according to QPS 2022 data. Mackay suburb is safer than only 2% of Queensland suburbs.

What is the safest suburb in Mackay city?

Ooralea is the safest suburb in Mackay city with a rate of 3072 incidents per 100,000 population as per the QPS report. Ooralea suburb is safer than 64% of Queensland suburbs.

However, it’s important to note that low crime rates do not necessarily guarantee safety, and that crime can occur anywhere. Hence, it’s essential always to stay vigilant and take appropriate safety measures.

Mackay Crime Rate by Suburb

Note: This article doesn’t have detailed data for family violence, victims, female offenders, reoffending, sexual offences, stalking, and youth crime. For more information about these topics, check our resources page.

References

• Queensland Government Statistician’s Office
• Queensland Police Service (QPS)